by Nick Roteman
Auburn sat down with a bump on the beach, staring in the direction of the main road, lost in her own world still humming to herself.
“Auburn, Auburn, look at me, me please!” Orla insisted, as she tried to make her turn her head to look at her but to no avail. She was still tightly clutching her laptop which Orla carefully managed to prize off her and place in her towel for safety. There was nothing else for it so Orla sat down next to her and just cradled her in her arms, holding her tight and whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
They sat like that, Orla cuddling Auburn for almost an hour. Several people stopped to stare or even laugh, but all were given short shrift and told to piss off in no uncertain terms or be arrested.
Finally as if waking from a dream Auburn slowly came out of her trance like state, and entangling herself from Orla’s clutches stood up and shook herself like a dog.
Her first words being. “My laptop, where’s my laptop!”
“It’s here,” she pointed. “Quite safe and secure, I wrapped it in your towel see.”
Auburn held out her hands palms up and Orla gave it to her.
But was still concerned. “Are you ok now, shall I help you home?”
“Thank you I am fine.” Auburn assured her. “You are very kind, you can go I’m going home.”
“Are you sure you’ll be alright, I don’t mind walking home with you.”
Auburn walked up the beach and onto the path followed by Orla, she stopped by an empty bench and suddenly sat down and opened her laptop. “I wonder if I can get Wi-Fi down here. I know the code for the restaurant above us on the pier.”
“Ok I get the message, I’ll leave you here. You take care Auburn, er... look...” she fumbled inside one of her many pockets and produced a business card, which she handed to her.
“Anytime, just ring me, ok. I had better get back to work, bye Auburn, anytime!”
“Yes bye,” Auburn muttered absentmindedly without bothering to look up, she had successfully managed to log on to the net; she was busy now.
Eagerly she opened her Hotmail account and saw there was one from Freddy, which she thought was weird as she opened it, wonder what he was up to; probably one of his silly jokes.
She read and reread it, the warmth of the sun seeming to suddenly cool. She shivered and glanced about her as if half expecting to see someone watching her, but no one was taking any particular notice of her, in fact no one was even sitting that near to her right now. Everyone had discreetly moved slightly away leaving her on her own.
She could scarcely believe it the email wasn’t from Freddy but from her archenemy Tom. Another gloating composition stating no one was safe from his clutches, and should she wish to see his flat again, try asking first. It finished on how delicious and willing young Freddy was, and would always be, he was so easy!
She was disgusted and a little annoyed that he had somehow known she had visited his place, she had been so careful. As the email came via Freddy, she couldn’t send a suitable reply and vowed her number one priority now was to find his computer and his email account; she was up for the challenge. He didn’t frighten her, well perhaps just a little bit, but she had read somewhere that fear gave one an edge, and she needed an edge, hopefully a sharp and pointy one she prayed.
Tom arrived back at Alice’s, his car was beginning to make some strange noises, and he certainly hadn’t the money to have a garage take a look. He was down to his last £50. It was time to apply some emotional pressure, and hope his powers of seduction were to the fore.
Over a fish and chip supper which she had picked up from the local shop in Weybridge, Alice first told Tom her great news.
“Ooh I haven’t told you yet, I’ve finally had a proper email from my dear son, how about that?”
“Good, about time. Is he ok?”
“Sounds as if he’s having a whale of a time, lucky sod. I don’t think he realises how lucky he is.”
“When’s he coming back?” he asked sounding interested.
“Bah he wouldn’t commit to that. Possible in another two weeks, but I won’t hold my breath. Oh I’m so pleased he’s enjoying himself, he took losing his father very badly, poor thing, It’ll do him the power of good.”
She looked across at Tom her face breaking into a grin, he smiled back. It was all too easy, perhaps this Auburn would make a decent opponent and really offer him some sort of challenge before he taught her a real lesson. No one got in his way, not any more he had had enough of being told what to do; he had taken control of his life.
“Oh I’ve forwarded the email to Auburn, as you wanted, and she’ll tell Rachel so she needn’t worry. Now we can enjoy ourselves my darling!”
“Good, we’ll have to go somewhere nice. How about a meal out tomorrow evening, your choice?”
Alice nodded in reply. “So come on it’s time to tell me how the meeting with the bank went, I’ve been patient long enough.”
“I’ll be honest, it didn’t go exactly as planned. They weren’t too impressed with our business plan.”
Alice frowned slightly. “Why?”
“Well it’s all new territory, really difficult to prove what our sales figures could look like over the next two years. Guesstimates don’t seem to cut it with bastards in shiny suites!”
“I hear that, Alan was always cursing banks and their petty minded managers. He used to say most of them had never even had a real job!”
They both slipped into silent thought as they finished eating.
“Coffee?” She said jumping to her feet and collecting both their plates.
“Yes please. Got any chocolate, I need chocolate!”
“Oh a man after my own heart. I do have a secret stash...”
She returned and placed the coffee cups on the table and sat back down. Leaning across she took hold of his hand. “I believe in you and I admire you wanting to be your own boss, so just hear me out, please...”
Tom gave a faint nod.
“Let’s just say I lent you the full amount, say to cover your first years trading. After that you should have a clearer picture and can go back to the bank again.” She stopped, and stared into his face, searching for any response.
He kept her in suspense; timing was everything, just a little longer, as if he was seriously thinking this over.
Long enough, “Are you really sure, I mean this is a winner, I have no worries on that front, but it will be your money. Say for some reason it does goes wrong, can you afford to lose your investment?”
“It won’t fail. I can give you a cheque right now for £4000, and we can go and transfer the rest tomorrow, that soon enough darling?”
In answer he stood up and moved over to her, putting his arms around her body he embraced her. Pulling her to her feet, he led her upstairs; she had earnt a 5star love making session tonight.
Tuesday had finally arrived - Auburn’s first day at the library this week. She was up, washed, dressed, and breakfast finished by just after 7am, a full hour and a half before the library opened. She was still sitting at the breakfast table, laptop open, singing happily to herself, when a blurry-eyed Freddy popped his head around the door.
“What’s going on,” he yawned, “What time is it, seems the middle of the night to me?” he moaned.
“Could be, but it’s not. It’s going to be a lovely day I know it, shall we go for a walk along the pier before work, and you are working today aren’t you, I forget?”
Freddy came right into the kitchen and just stared at her in disbelief. He looked up at the wall clock and pulled a face.
“Jesus Aub it’s 7.15, even the sun’s only just got up, and I don’t start at the shop until 10.”
She smiled and glanced up at him, then back to her screen. “Well, you’re up now,” she replied. “So get some proper clothes on an
d let’s go, go, go, go! Or chop, chop as Stella would say to me, so, chop, chop Freddy!”
Freddy was too tired to argue, and knowing she wouldn’t let it rest, he took the easy option and went off to change and presented himself back at the kitchen.
True to her word the sun was shining the time they set foot outside, and with a light wind coming off the shore, it already felt nice and warm. They walked along with arms linked to the pier and out along it, and by the time they had reached the furthest point even Freddy was beginning to enjoy the early day.
They did a circuit of the pier and had just stepped off it back down onto the service road when a female voice called out to them.
“Hello Auburn, you’re up early, lovely day!” Orla said walking up to join them, her partner Neil in tow.
“Oh hello Orla, this is my cousin Freddy.”
Freddy nodded at both of them.
“Are you alright now?” Orla asked. “I was concerned last Sunday, you know?”
“I have the odd turn. It’s forgotten now, but thank you...”
“I didn’t really do anything but be there for you.”
“I know, I meant thank you for asking?” She replied as she glanced over at Freddy. “Come on Freddy, I don’t want to be late. Good bye Orla, Neil.”
Orla and Neil stood aside as Auburn marched off with Freddy in tow. Orla watched her go.
“What was that all about Aub, you fraternising with the cops now?” He said only when they were well out of earshot.
“I had one of my turns on the beach, she was there to steady me, nothing really that was days ago you know!” She replied dismissively.
“Yes but I get worried about you. Why the turn, what brought it on, do you remember?”
“Yes of course, I’m not stupid of course I remember it was reading an email.”
“Reading an email gave you a turn, how, I don’t understand.”
Auburn really didn’t wish to discuss it further, she’d rather try and forget his email. “It doesn’t matter, ok.”
The rest of the morning flew by for Auburn, until at 1pm Oli interrupted her by suggesting she should join a few of them for lunch.
“Oh yes I’m starving, where we off to?” She said happily, she was always ready to eat.
“Once a week we, or as many of us who can get out, go somewhere nice for lunch. We take it in turns to decide and it’s my turn, so I feel like a Thai meal.”
“Goody I know of a good one, and it’s close by too shall I’ll lead the way.”
Over their lunch, the conversation drifted from personal matters and gossip, through to politics and back again.
“Well I think the government is trying to do what’s right, and I think giving our banks extra money and stipulating its usage is paramount in revitalising the economy.” Sally boldly stated, definitely a lady who lunched and doing her bit for her community by volunteering once a week.
“I’m not so certain about this QE!” Oli Gregson argued back.
“Oh just because you’re a paid up Labourite, QE is the right way to go, and even my darling husband agrees, so that’s a first in our family,” she replied with a jolly good laugh.
The soft tone of Moira’s voice like an Irish lilt cut in. “Oh dear I hate to ask, I really do, but what actually is this QE, I feel I should know, sorry.”
Sally glanced over at Oli who was about to enlighten her when it was Auburn who spoke first.
“Quantitative Easing to give it its full name is the creating of money by the Bank of England who pass this money onto the Banks who in turn are supposed to lend it to new businesses.”
“Thank you Auburn, you are so clever.” She replied kindly.
“Yes!” Oli agreed visibly impressed by her answer.
Auburn instead of being pleased was annoyed at this interruption. “And in return for this money,” she continued, her voice growing louder, “The Banks give up some of their assets, so everyone is supposed to be a winner, but the major British Banks still won’t dish out this money, they’ll just add it to their balance sheets and get even richer, and us poor taxpayers will keep paying!”
“Tish what rot!” Sally exclaimed. ”We need to have faith in our George...”
“Actually it was always down to Mervin King, not George Osborne.” Auburn added forcefully, but not meaning it as a put down.
“Yes of course you’re right, silly me...”
“Yes, and now of course he had been replaced by Mark Carney.”
“Oh yes, a Canadian running our Bank really I ask you!” Sally interjected loudly.
Moira ignored her and simply asked. “But will it counteract the dire state of our high streets, I was reading in the newspapers some shopping centres have as many as one in three shops empty, what do you say Auburn dear, you appear to be our expert here?”
“I don’t know that answer and who does, but with £75 billion added to the already minted £200 billion, it jolly well ought to do something I think!”
“The real trouble is that people don’t like coming in to the town centres anymore, especially with the astronomical cost of parking.” Oli confirmed.
“Except Bournemouth, it’s always too full of cars!” Auburn remarked.
They all agreed and left it at that, preferring to go back to general small talk. Oli was really impressed with Auburn’s apparent knowledge, seeing her in quite a different light.
He used the excuse of teatime to wander over to where Auburn was sitting, as usual in front of a screen tapping in codes and numbers at a speed any top class secretary would have been proud to do.
“Hi how are you doing, it’s been a busy day, hasn’t it? Cup of tea?”
“Umm rather busy at the moment.” She replied without stopping her work.
“I can bring it over if you want to work on, although a break is good for the eyes I find, stretch the legs you know....”
Auburn ignored him and carried on working, her fingers a blur on the keyboard.
Not to be fobbed off as he had made the effort he tried again. “Look I was wondering...” he began, but Moira returned just then and he hesitated.
“Hello Oliver, can I help you, if Auburn’s busy?”
“Umm no, nothing important, I’ll come back later must get on!” He said hurrying out the room and back to his office.
Moira smiled as she watched him disappear. “I think Mr Gregson likes you young lady, what about that?”
Auburn suddenly stopped typing and glanced up at her. “Yes I fancy him too, but I’m terribly busy at the moment, he’ll have to wait.”
Moira laughed loudly. “Playing hard to get, that’s the way, I expect he will return again soon.”
He did, he passed by her office at 5.30 closing time, and seeing her on her own he risked entering. he offered to walk back with her and she agreed. They walked back to her house in silence, he was desperate to engage her in conversation but she was walking so fast it took all his effort to just keep up. She too wanted to talk to him but couldn’t think what to say so decided on getting to her house as fast as she could and perhaps talking there.
Outside her house, she did her usual general invite, which he accepted.
He stood in the living room, looking about him. It was comfortably furnished, with an expensive sound system, and a plasma TV. The plain white walls were covered with framed photos of a bevy of beautiful young people of both sexes, mostly laughing or clowning around. It also appeared the sun forever shone in Bournemouth.
“Please sit Oli, what can I get you, tea, coffee, or some wine?”
“Tea would be fine, thanks, no sugar.”
He sat down on one of the two couches, which faced one another, with a solid wooden coffee table separating them.
“Coming right up!” Auburn said going
off to the kitchen, but she stopped short and returned. “I forgot to ask would you prefer chocolate or plain biscuits?”
“Oh no, just a cup of tea for me thanks.”
Auburn returned in a few minutes carefully carrying a large mug of tea, which she placed on the coffee table before leaving. She soon returned carrying another, which she also placed on the table, pointing at one of them as being for him. She left a third time to return with a dinner plate cradled in both hands, full of biscuits.
“Just in case you change your mind Oli, but if you don’t I will have to eat them all myself!”
He smiled and stood up and walked over to look in detail at some of the photos adorning the walls.
“Are there any of you?” he asked.
“No not yet, Freddy says I have to be up there, but I don’t like my picture being taken.”
“Oh that’s sad, you must, you’re part of this house.”
“Maybe, we will see.”
He retook hi seat opposite her. “So do you think you’d like to stay with us at the library, or is this just a stepping stone?”
“I feel comfortable in libraries, and there’s so much to do in yours.”
“Good, that’s good.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?” she suddenly blurted out.
He looked straight at her before turning away. “Well, er...no, not really I don’t have a lot of free time, and women I find demand a lot of attention. I prefer to be single, for now anyway.” He felt awkward uncertain as to what to say next. Perhaps this had not been such a good idea.
Auburn jumped to her feet making him sit back. “Good!” she said. “I have something to show you. Let me fetch them.”
She hurried out the room and ran off down the corridor to her bedroom. Oli puffed out his cheeks and sat back on the couch wondering.
Inside her room she pulled out the little box where she had put the condoms filched from Tom’s flat, and opened the box to look at them. She loved the different colours.